Australia all-rounder Cameron Green’s bowling fitness may take a hit as he eyes match preparation for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against hosts India. Green has been training with the team in Sydney ahead of the Nagpur Test to regain match fitness to make it into the playing XI for the first Test and is expected to hear good news from the surgeon for his broken finger. are doing. Against South Africa during the Melbourne Test last month.
Early in his professional career, Green has shown himself to be a cricketer who prefers to play pace over a consistent length of time. He has improved over the summer in both this season’s Test matches and the Ashes a year ago.
In Melbourne, he took five wickets against South Africa before fracturing his finger. The all-rounder came out to bat and managed to score a crucial unbeaten half-century while playing with an injured finger.
“Where he is at the moment, his biggest challenge is the bowling. There is a lack of loading, and one of the main reasons for us arriving early in the camp is to make sure we are ready to go for the hard work.” what is bowling unit [is] going to wrap up. “Building that confidence is the main thing, getting him ready to be successful in the first Test, giving him enough time, that will be the key question,” Australia head coach Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPN.
Green would be regarded as a specialist batsman, however, if his bowling did not quite measure up. Last year, he demonstrated his ability to catch pace on the subcontinent with crucial half-centuries in Lahore and Galle, where he won player of the match on a difficult surface.
The all-rounder, however, is essential to balance out Australia’s side. The selectors will have to choose whether to stick with a two-quick, two-spinner balance, as they did against South Africa at the SCG, or to support his usual strength in pace with extra quickness, if he is unable to bowl (or play).
McDonald, however, ruled out using three specialist spinners despite Green’s inability to bowl.
Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, who both played at the SCG, are other options at No.6 for the Australians, if Green is not seen as a specialist batsman, the latter complementing a plethora of left-handers who Must be working in their favor. ,
“we see him [Handscomb] as an important right-hand option. We have a lot of left handed batsmen. If there’s a late change, or Cameron Green doesn’t play the first Test, we think we’ve got some good options,” McDonald said.
Mitchell Starc, Australia’s other major injury concern, is expected to be ready for the second Test in Delhi on February 17, although there is talk about sending him off earlier than originally intended.
Starc also suffered a finger injury at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and has been bowling with protection during practice, but will not be allowed to do so during the game.
McDonald described his progress as remarkable, noting that there is still a set deadline for his return.
“The guard needs to be up. Really protecting against a knock that would injure that ligament again. So it’s a clear time frame to mitigate against any risk. To be honest we don’t see it as Can’t accelerate. It’s probably frustrating for Mitch that he feels good. But the good thing is when he’s out of the splint all his work will increase and it’ll be a lot more in that second test, Which is great news for us,” McDonald said.
Australia will tour India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, consisting of four Tests, starting February 9 in Nagpur.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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